Convertible suction cleaners



Jan. 13, 1959 J. E. DUFF 2,867,833

CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 6, 1955 Jan.13, 1959 J. E. DUFF CONVERTIBLE SUCTION vCLEANERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril e, 1955 Jan. 13, 1959 J. E. DUFF 2,857,833

CONVERTIBLE sUcTIoN CLEMnRsv y 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 6, 1955United States Patent O 2,867,833 CoNvERTIBLE sUcTIoN CLEANERS Jack E.DniiZCanton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, acorporation of hio Application April 6, 1955, Serial No. 499,613 6claims. (c1. ls-azs) nozzle, the casing forming a handle for the cleanerwhereby it may be propelled about for normal on-theoor cleaning.

The motor-fan unit is mounted in the bottom portion of the casing, and:draws dirt laden air through a filter bag mounted in the top of thecasing. A duct pivotally connected to the wheeled nozzle extendsupwardly along the casing to an inlet in the top of the casing toconduct dirt laden air into the inlet of the filter bag.

The inlet connection to the lter bag is provided with a valvearrangement for insertion of a tube connected to a cleaning tool hosewhereby upon insertion of the tube into the topof the casing air ow isdiverted from` the on-the-floor nozzle to the cleaning tool hose wherebydirt laden air from the cleaning-tool is drawn into the inlet of thefilter bag. y

According to the present invention, the cleaning tool hose is anextensible and contracti'ble hose which may be contracted axially into asmall space occupying about one third of its extended length and whenextended may be used for oi-the-oor cleaning.V

In order to store the collapsible hose on the cleaner when converted toon-the-floor cleaning, a storage receptacle is provided in one side wallof the ilter-motor-fan casing to receive the hose and also tov receivethe Wand or extension tube normally hose when the latter is used foroff-the-oor cleaning. Additionally, a hand piece which is used inpropelling the cleaner about during on-the-oor cleaning is telescopedinto the end fitting of the wand so as to form an integral part of theon-the-oor cleaner. When in storage position, the extensible andcollapsible hose surrounds the extension tube or wand, and the latter isprovided with a bayonet connection to anchor it at the bottom end of thestorage receptacle so that it may be used for propelling the cleaningduring on-the-oor cleaning.

When it is desired to convert to off-the-floor cleaning, it is onlynecessary to remove the hand piece, collapsible hose and wand from thereceptacle in which they are stored. The hose, being extensible to threeor four times its collapsed or stored length, may be extended and usedby itself as an off-the-oor cleaning tool. The hand piece may beconnected to the free end of the hose and may be used as a cleaningtool. In addition, the wand may be attached to the end of the hand pieceand any suitable cleaning tool attached to its other end.

In convertingto off-the-oor cleaning, the wand is unlatched and removedfrom the storage receptacle. Since the upper end of the contracted hosehas a frictionalA fit with the wand, the hose will also `be removed fromthe attached to the end of the ICC storage receptacle along with` thepropelling hand piece, The free end of the hose is then inserted intothe valved opening in the top of the filter casing to close off thenormal on-the-fioor dirt laden yair conducting tube and to place thehose in open communication with the inlet to the filter.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figurel is a side schematic view of the cleaner of the present inventionshowing the hose and wand in stored position and thefhand piece inposition for use in pro-, peiling the cleaner, j v

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the lter casing showing the hose inits stored contracted position, the

attachedto the upper end of the wand,

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional viewshowing the position the hose takeswhen it is contracted and in relation to the wand when in storageposition,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on ure 2, and

Figure 5 shows the cleaner of the present invention converted tooff-the-oor cleaning. l 4

The hose used with the cleaner of the present invention is ultraexible,extensible yand contractable and is shown in detail in its contractedposition in Figures 2 and 3 and in its extended position in Figure 5.

The hose is generally represented by the reference numeral 1t) andcomprises a thin thermoplastic tube 11 line M4 of Figencasing acylindrical helix 12. The helix 12 is formed of a metallic helicallycoiled reinforcing element 13 encased or sheathed within a thermoplasticsheath 14.

Thehose 10 is provided with end fittings 15 and 16, one for connectionto the suction inlet to the filter for oif-the-oor'cleaning, and theother for connection to suitable cleaning tools as will presentlyappear.

Between the fittings 15 and 16, the hose 10 is formed with deep foldshaving inwardly and outwardly facing valleys 17 and 18, respectively,with the turns 19 of the reinforcing element 12 trapped within theinwardly facing valleys 17 and with the walls 20 which form the Valleysin contact with each other when the hose is in its contracted positionas shown in Figures 2 and 3. The turns 19 of the reinforcing element areso wound as to tendto move into contact with each other to form the deepvalleys 17 and 18 in the tube 11 when no extending force is appliedthereto. The inside diameter of the tube being normally less than thediameter of `the coil 12, its walls will move inwardly to form the folds20 as the hose contracts; However, a few ounces of force will extend thehose 1li to the position shown in Figure 5, and the walls 20 willflatten out as shown at 21 in Figure 5, so that the hose 1i) may beextended to three or four times its contracted length, but yet willoccupy, when contracted, a very short length capable, of being stored inthe small space provided by the length of the casing 25 of the cleanergenerally indicated kby the reference numeral 26 as shown in Figures land 5.

At the ends of the hose 1@ where the fittings are attached, the turns 9of the reinforcing element 12 are in Contact with each other, and thewall` 1-1 is uncorrugated as shown at 8. f kp The cleaner 26 comprises anozzle 27 having a downwardly facing nozzle opening 28 and is mountedfor ambulatory movement by front and rear wheels 29 and 3l),respectively.

A suction pipe 31 communicates with the nozzle opening 28 and is pivotedto the nozzle 27 at 32. The pipe 31 communicates with a suction tube 33which forms a part of the casing `25l and communicating with an inlet t`for-cleaning or replacement of the filterbag 38'which s mounted withinthe "upperend of the casing v25 bymeans of a combined supporting ringand sealing lgasket 39 as shown in Figure y2.

A motor-fan Iunit 40 is suitably supported in the lower end of casing 25so as to produce a suction at the tube l36, the air being exhausted `by-Way of an exhaust opening 40.

A vertically extending receptacle 41'Ais formedin one l Wall of casing25`for receiving the'extension'wand 142 and the vcontracted hose 10. Aguide 43 is providedin the l Ibottom of the receptacle l41 lforcentering the Wand 42 and is provided with a pin 44 which coacts-with'the bayonet slot'45 in the end of the wand 42 to hold the latter inarigid positionwithin the receptacle 41.

The contracted hose V `has an inside diameter such that it may betelescoped about the wand 42 in its storage t position within thereceptacle 41, the latter'being provided with a cup shaped support -46for engagement with the end of the fitting 16 to supportthe-hose 10 inits storage `position. The wand 42 has a sliding't with the fitting andoperates to center the hose 10 at its upper end. AThe hand piece l46hasl one end 47 shaped'tofriction- `ally fit within the upper end 4S ofthe wand 42 so that l the hand piece 46 may be used as a handle forpropelling Vthe cleaner about during the on-theliioor cleaning, it'being noted that the lower end of the wand 42 is anchored in place bythe `bayonet --connection 44, 45 'for that vpurpose. i l

The fitting 16 is formed with a groove 50 which coacts with a springclamp 51 to hold the end of the hose in the converter fitting 36 whenthe cleaner is converted to offthe-floor cleaning. The legs 'of thespring clamp 51 are normally positioned in slits 52 in the walls of theconlverter tube 36, but may be expanded by pressing on button '53 toVrelease the hose as will presently appear.

The upper end of cap is closed by a pivoted closure 155 which is spring"biased to closed position as shown in I'full lines'in Figure 2, but maylbe moved to its-'dotted line position shown in that kfigure to closethe opening to the duct 34 when the cleaner is converted to ofi-the-'iioor cleaning.

Operation In normal on-the-iioor cleaning, the hand piece :46 isgrasped, and the casing 25 pivoted backwardly about the pivot 32 wherebythe cleaner may be propelled about yon vits wheels 29 and 30 for generalon-the-fioor cleaning purposes. The motor-fan unit which isl positionedin "the lower part'of the casingl25 is then energized, which willproduce a suction within the converter `VJtube 36, passage 34, conduit33 and 31` and nozzle 28. The suction thus produced will lift the carpetupwardly against the nozzle mouth 28, and the action of the agitator 5will remove dust and dirt from the carpet'in a manner well known in theart.

l The dirt laden air Will pass through the nozzle 28, rconduit 31 and33, through ducts 34 and .36 and into the lter 33- where vthe dust anddirt will be separated` from the air stream, and the latter will passthrough the lter while the dirt and litter will be collected on theinterior of the filter 38. The clean air will then pass through themotor-fan unit and be exhausted through the exhaust port ,i It. is vtobenoted that during on-the-oor cleaning, the wand 42 is anchoredtothebottorn of thereceptacle 41 by the bayonet connection 44, 45, and thehand piece is'rigidly and frictionally connected vto the upper'end ofthefwand 48'so .thata'` rigid connection is provided for; 'pivting thecasing 25 backwardly, andiforpropelllng l1t` `vrabout over"the"surface""being cleaned.

escasas When it is ydesired -to vconvert v.to oi-the-oorcleaning, thewand 42 is rotated to `release the -fbayonet connection 44, 45, wherebyit and the hose 10 may be easily removed from the receptacle 41. e

The fitting 16 of the hose is then inserted into the converter tube 36which will push the valve 55 to a dotted line position of Figure 2 -and`close the duct 34. At the same time, .jthefwire i clamp 45-1 `will -beLengaged in the grove Sil of the fitting 16 and firmly hold that endrofthe =hose V16 to fthecleaner bodywhereby-itrnaytbe extended to :threevor -four'timesits contracted length and usedifor ofT-the-fioorfcleaningas showntin Figure 5.

The motor-fan unit may then be' energized,V and a suction will lbev.dr-a--vvnon-thhose `10. The iitting 15 itself may be used as crevicetool whereby the dirt laden air will flow through the hose 10 into thefilter 38 Where the dirt will be deposited, and the air will passthrough the wallsfof'they filter andthe celan-air dischargedi throughthe exhaustport-40. 1

If a longerfextensionvis desired, `either-th e hand piece 46for1t`hewand/42'maylbeinsertediintothe fitting 15--o`f l the hose and beheld-thereinby 'friction '-or any other suitabletconnection.`Anysuitable-cleaning tool may rloe attached to the'free yen'd Vofthehand -piece 46 or-wand'42 as the'caserna-y be.

If a Llonger extension is desired as when cleaning drapes, etc., thehand piece 46 is attached tothe-fitting T15, andthe wand'42 isattachedto its freeend bythe frictionalljointl as shownin .Figuref Thebayonet' slot 45- may,y then be usedV to-attach any --suitable.cleaningtool.

When-itisdesired toreconvertthe cleaner to -on-the- Yiioorcleanng orto-put itin storagethe end piece 46 and wand 42fare removed. P=Thebutton-f531may-then be depressedto expandfthe-spring clamp Sl'tandrelease the fitting 216 l whereby it maylbe removed from the'converterftube 36, and theYvalve-SS will-.moveto itsffull linepositionfof Figure y2 closing theA converter portvfand lopening the portleading totthegductflii. "Thehose "-150 may then `be-placedinfreceptacle v41 a'ndcontractedfas shown in Figure 2 with theend of fitting restingv on cupl 146, itbeing-l notedthat l' the lhosell)ywillrnatura'lly 'tend to contract toitsminimumlength andin itscontracted position will occupy the short length of receptaclel41. I.

Thefbayonet end ofthe-wand y42.1nay the'nbe inserted within thecontracted hose 10. "i Its bayonet end145-will engage the :guide 143 andcenter both the wand' 42'=.and 'the'lhose 10|within thereceptacle '41.The.Wand1-42lrnay then "beyrotated ='.to engage the s 'bayonetconnectioni44,

.145,whereby1thelower end. ofy theifwand :willlbe ,firmly anchored .tothecaSng 25. Flhe end47 of the .handpiecc wand 42 whereby the. handpiece 46 may be utilizedfor propelling the=cleanerabout- 'IFromthe:foregoing-description, yiti-may befseeniggthat the presentinventionaprovides al1 arrangement` by..wl1ich -bothathe wand 4Z-andVthezhandfpiece 46-.serve a -useful function Ybothawhen` the cleaner isused foron-the-oor Aand :also when =used forwof-thedioor cleaning..Addi- Qtonally,-1the extensible and Lcontractable hose mayy be storedina compact package.4 about/ithe wand 42 when the cleaner is used foron-the-iioor cleaningand-.maybc extended ato three 1 or i" four timesits contracted: length when use'dfor-ol-the-fioor cleaning. n

'While I-have shown and described but a singleembodiment of myinvention,it-isfto' beunderstood thatlthat, embodiment` is to be taken aslillustrative' only and not:` ina limiting sense. f I1dol not wishftobelirnitedLto.theparticin use in onthe-lloor cleaning, a propelling handlepivoted to said body and extending in a generally vertical directionWhen in storage position, a converter port associated with said 'cleanerfor use in converting the cleaner to off-thefloor cleaning, suctioncreating means for alternatively producing a flow of air through saidnozzle or through saidr converter port, an air flow path from saidnozzle to said suction creating means, a second air flow path from saidconverter port to said suction creating means including a portion ofsaid first air iioW path, a single length of reinforced corrugated hoseextensible to at least twice its collapsed length by the application ofa few pounds pull thereto for use in ofi-the-oor cleaning, said hosebeing of the self-collapsing type which automatically assumes itscollapsed position when the extending force is released, a ttingattached to each end of said hose, one of said ttings being detachablyconnectible to said converter port for converting said cleanerto-ol-the-floor cleaning, means associated with said converter port andwith said one litting for closing the air flow path from said nozzle tosaid suction creating means and opening the air ow ,nath from saidconverter port to said suction creating means as said one fitting isconnectedto said converter port, an elongated cylindrical receptacleassociated with said handle, said receptacle having an inside diameterslightly larger than the outside diameter of said hose when the latteris in its collapsed condition and being of a length to just receive saidhose and fittings when said hose is in its collapsed condition wherebysaid hose and fittings may be completely encased in said receptacle whenthe cleaner is used for on-the-floor cleaning and easily removed fromsaid receptacle and attached to said converter port when the cleaner isused for o-the-oor cleaning and wherein said hose may'then be extendedto at least twice the length of said receptacle to provide ample hoselength for oif-the-oor cleaning. v

2 In a suction cleaner according to claim l including an extension wandfor attachment to the end of said hose when the cleaner is used foroffthefloor cleaning, said wand being of a diameter to t within theinterior of said hose when the latter is encased within said receptacleduring on-the-loor cleaning.

3. In a suction cleaner according to clairn 2 including a hand piecehaving one end formed for connection with the second of said fittingsand its other end formed for connection to said wand whereby said handpiece may be connected to the free end of said hose and -said wand maybe attached to the end of said hand piece for ofE-the-iloor cleaning andsaid hand piece may be attached to the end of said wand when the latteris encased within said hose so as to form a part of said handle duringon-theoor cleaning.

4. ln a suction cleaner according to claim 3 in which means is providedwithin said receptacle for anchoring said wand assembled withinsaidhose.

5. A suction cleaner comprising, a' body mounted for ambulatory movementover a surface to be cleaned, a downwardly facing nozzle formed on saidbody, a suction conduit pivotally connected to said body andcommunicating with said nozzle and movable to a vertical storageposition, a casing secured to said conduit and in comf munication withthe upper end thereof, alter mounted in the upper end of said casing toreceive dirt laden air from said conduit, suction creating means withinthe lower end of said casing for drawing air through said nozzle andconduit into said ltery and for discharging cleaned air to atmosphere,converter opening-in the upper end of said casing adjacent the entranceof said conduit thereto, a Flexible hose extensible to at least twiceits collapsed length by the application of a few pounds pull thereto foruse in oit-the-lioor cleaning, said hose being of the self-collapsingtype which automatically assumes its collapsed position when theextending force is released, a fitting attached to each end of saidhose, one of said littings being constructed for detachable connectionto said converter port for converting said cleaner to o-the-floorcleaning, means associated with said one f1tting and with said converterport for closing air flow from said nozzle to said ilter andestablishing air ow through said converter port to said lter when saidone iitting is attached to said converter port, an elongated cylindricalreceptacle secured'to the side of said casing and extending lengthwisethereof, said receptacle having an inside diameter slightly greater thanthe outside diameter of said hose when the latter is in its .collapsedposition and being of a length to just receive said hose and fittingwhen said hose is collapsed, and said conduit, casing andreceptacle'forming at least a part of a handle for use in propellingsaid cleaner over a surface to be cleaned.

6. A suction cleaner according to claim 5 including a wand and a handpiece, said hand piece having one end constructed for detachable.connection to the second of said hose fittings and its other endconstructed for detachable connection to one end of said wand, wherebythe hand piece alone or the hand piece and wand may be attached to thefree end of said hose for use in oi-the-tloor cleaning, said wand beingof a diameter to t within said hose when the latter is in its collapsedposition within said receptacle and of a length to extend beyond the endof said receptacle when positioned within said hose, and means withinthe bottom of said receptacle coacting with means on the other end ofsaid wand for anchoring said wand within said receptacle whereby 'saidhose and wand may be storediwithin Vsaid receptacle and said hand piecemay be attached to the outer end of said wand for use in propelling saidcleaner when the cleaner is used for onthe-oor cleaning.

References Cited in ther tile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS1,217,817 Peters Feb. 27, 1917 1,338,791 Replogle May 4, 1920 1,763,397Hutchinson June 10, 1930 1,882,441 Nielsen Oct. 1l, l1932 2,123,914Replogle July 19, 1938 2,269,482 Replogle Jan. 13, 1942 2,343,056Harlett Feb. 29, 1944 2,367,437 Salt Jan. 16, 1945 2,396,059 RobertsMar. 5, 1946 2,504,846 Kirby Apr. 16, 1950 2,566,030 McGuire Aug. 28,1951 2,573,091 Brown Oct. 30, 1951. 42,607,863 MacFarland Aug. 19, 19522,642,616 Browne June'23, 1953 Duff Mar.- 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTSDenmark Jan. 2,v 1945

